Ho'oponopono: The Hawaiian Secret to Happiness

Some would argue that the only way to achieve inner peace and outer health is by going within. That's the theory behind Ho'oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian healing technique that's proving life- changing for those who practice it.

Ho'oponopono is a ritual of reconciliation that originated centuries ago in many island cultures. It's based on the thought that disease is caused by anger, guilt, mistakes, and relationship problems. Healing is caused by reconciliation and forgiveness. Traditionally, the practice was facilitated by healers or spiritual leaders, but in recent years, it's become a practice for self-healing.

The basic concept is that we are all 100 percent responsible for everything that shows up in our lives. When problems arise, even when they appear to be caused by someone else, Ho'oponopono says the problems come from within you. By asking your self for forgiveness, the error or problem is repaired and goes away. The word Ho'oponopono means, "to make right," and the practice is considered a mental cleansing technique that removes sources of disease, anger, and other maladies and replaces them with peace, joy, and happiness. It is often compared to being like the law of attraction that says you draw into your experience that which you think about. If you think about negative and fearful things, that's what you'll experience. Conversely, if you think about positive and empowering things, you'll experience that.

How Do You Do Ho'oponopono?

You do it by meditating on four simple statements and repeating them whenever negative thoughts or situations show up in your life. They are:

I love you

I'm sorry

Please forgive me

Thank you

By saying I love you you're acknowledging loving and compassionate thoughts toward yourself.

By saying I'm sorry, you apologize for creating inner turmoil and disharmony

By saying Pleaseforgive me, you're asking for what you want to have happen, making amends for creating trouble for yourself

By saying Thank you, you're expressing gratitude, which invariably increases the flow of good things into your life.

Does It Work?

People who practice Ho'oponopono say it does them a world of good. Anecdotal reports of improved health, wealth, happiness and better relationships may be enough to give it a try in your own life. Even in the absence of hard scientific studies, it makes good sense that introducing more love, compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude into your life can only be good for you.

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